Swing out oil cooler mounting



1967 v R D. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,297,030

SWING OUT OIL COOLER MOUNTING Fild March 4-, 1965- 2 Sheets-$heet 1INVENTORS ROBERT D. WILLIAMS EUGENE E M/ELNIKOWSKI BYWM 'm TT'X Jan. 10,1967 R w s ETAL 3,297,080

SWING OUT OIL COOLER MOUNTING Filed March 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 is////1"' )l INVENTORS ROBERT D. WILLIAMS EUGENE F. MIELNIKOWSKI UnitedStates Patent 3,2Q7,08t) SWING OUT OIL COOLER MGUNTJING Robert D.Williams, La Grange, and Eugene F. Mielnikowski, Chicago, llll.,assignors to International Harvester Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 437,077 4-Claims. ((31; 165-77) This invention relates to a hydraulic fluid coolerand more particularly to an improved hydraulic fluid cooler mountingarrangement.

Hydraulic fluid coolers such as that referred to are con ventionallyincluded in the hydraulic systems of tractors and other vehiclesutilizing hydraulic power steering or driving components, the fluidcoolers being utilized to remove excessive heat from rapidly movingpressurized hydraulic fluid to maintain the hydraulic system at anoptimum operating temperature for good hydraulic performance as well asfor good lubrication.

Generally, the hydraulic fluid cooler, or oil cooler as it is morecommonly referred to, is mounted on an associated vehicle directly infront of the vehicle radiator where circulating air provided by movementof the vehicle as well as by a radiator fan, not shown, helps to carryaway some of the heat from the oil cooler coils to the surroundingatmosphere. Unfortunately, this arrangement usually requires completedemounting of the oil cooler and disassembly of the associated oilcooler lines in order to remove chafl or other debris which lodgesbetween the radiator and the oil cooler and to clean the front surfaceof the radiator core.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved hydraulic fluid cooler mounting arrangement.

It is another object of the invention to provide an hydraulic fluidcooler mounting arrangement whereby the cooler may be readily moved outof its normal operating position in front of the engine radiator topermit cleaning of the space between the cooler and the radiator withoutdemounting the cooler from the radiator housing or disconnectingassociated hydraulic fluid lines or materially altering the radiatorstructure and its mounting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an hydraulic fluidcooler mounting arrangement whereby the cooler can be swung quickly outof operating position into a cleaning position in which the radiator isexposed for cleaning the front surface of the engine radiator core andto remove chaff which has lodged between the oil cooler and theradiator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mounting arrangementfor a hydraulic fluid cooler which permits movement of the coolerswingingly away from the radiator to permit cleaning of the radiator,the cooler being held securely in operating position parallel to theradiator at other times.

These and other objects of the invention will become clear from thefollowing disclosure when considered in conjunction with the appendedclaims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hydraulic fluid cooler mountedin accordance with the principles of the present invention in front ofan associated tractor engine radiator with an associated hydraulicsystem shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational perspective view on an englarged scale ofthe cooler mounting arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 with the coolerswung outwardly from its operating position;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front elevational views on an enlarged scale ofportions of the mounting arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, showingdetails of the mounting arrangement and the manner in which thehydraulic fluid connections are made to the oil cooler;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of a lower portion of the coolerarrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan View in section 011 an enlarged scale of aholding means provided to maintain the cooler in operating positionparallel to the radiator with a cleaning position of the holding meansbeing shown in broken line superimposed on the figure.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show ahydraulic fluid or oil cooler 10 mounted within a radiator housing 12mounted on the supporting frame 13 of an associated vehicle, not shown,the oil cooler being positioned in front of a radiator 14 in anoperating position generally parallel to the radiator.

The oil cooler 10 is part of a hydraulic fluid system shownschematically in FIG. 1 including a source of hydraulic fluid underpressure to be cooled shown generally by the numeral 15, and a hydraulicfluid reservoir 17. An inlet cooler line 16 and an outlet cooler line 18are provided comprising lengths of flexible hose or elastomericcouplings formed of synthetic rubber or the like, lines 16, 18communicatively connecting the cooler respectively to the source offluid to be cooled and to a hydraulic fluid exhaust line 20 downstreamfrom the oil cooler and leading to the hydraulic fluid reservoir. Aconventional fluid leakage in line 22 is provided communicativelyconnecting an associated hydraulic steering system outlet 23 to theexhaust line 20.

The cooler 10 includes a cooler frame 24, FIG. 2, having generallyupright left and right spaced frame ends 26, 28, upper and lower frameportions 30, 32 and a plate like side portion 34 secured fixedly to theleft frame end 26. The plate like side portion 34 extends over a leftportion of the housing 12 as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and has locking orholding means 36 thereon maintaining the oil cooler in operatingposition parallel to the radiator.

The oil cooler 10 includes a generally horizontally extending coil 37comprising a plurality of vertically spaced lengths of tubing 38communicatively connected at their ends in zig zag fashion and extendingthrough the left and right frame ends 26, 28. A plurality of verticallyextending cooling fins designated generally by the numeral 40, FIGS. 3,4 are secured in position generally trans verse the lengths of tubing 38for transfer of heat from the coil tubing 38 carrying hydraulic fluid tobe cooled to the surrounding atmosphere.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 the coil 37 has an inlet end 42 comprising apiece of piping communicatively connected to the tubing 38 and extendinggenerally upwardly and toward an upper extension, not shown, of the leftframe end of the cooler, the inlet end 42 being connectedcommunicatively to the source of fluid to be cooled by inlet line orcoupling 16 which is secured conventionally about the inlet end 42 byclamp 44, FIG. 2, the coupling 16 having sufficient flexibility topermit the cooler to be swung radially outwardly about about a verticalaxis of rotation at the right end of the cooler.

A downwardly extending cooler outlet opening or pipe 45 is connectedcommunicatively by outlet cooler line 18 to an upright pipe portion 46of a T connection 48 which is connected to exhaust line 20 and leakageline 22, the T connection 48 being secured in position about the pipes45, 46 by conventional clamps 51, 5'2, FIG. 2.

The oil cooler it) is mounted for pivotal movement outwardly about acenter of rotation comprising a vertical axis at the right frame end 28of the cooler by hinged connections 54 of the pin type connecting theright frame end 28 of the cooler and the radiator housing 12 and securedthereto as by welding or bolting. The hinged connections 54 permit thecooler to be swung pivotally =31 outwardly from the radiator asillustrated in FIG. 2 through an arc of about 90 providing accessibilityto the front surface of the engine radiator for cleaning purposes.

Locking or holding means 36 provided for maintaining the cooler in theoperating position illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a pair of frictionfasteners 56, FIG. 6, each having a plurality of prongs or fingers 58extending generally horizontally inwardly from the plate-like sideportion 34 and cantilevered from the side portion 26 toward the radiatorand radiator housing and adapted to be received frictionally in radiatorframe openings 60 in line with the prongs. The frame openings 60 haveserrated or notched inner surfaces 62 which are adapted to catchlaterally or radially protruding portions 64 of the prongs 58. Theprongs 58 are adapted to be compressed radially inwardly within theopenings 60 between the serrated surfaces 62 toward a fastener centerline 66 between the prongs 58 of each friction fastener so as tofrictionally hug the inner serrated surfaces of the openings and thus tomaintain the cooler in operating position generally parallel to theradiator. When it is desired to clean the front surface of the radiatoror the space between the oil cooler and the radiator, it is a simplematter to pull the pronged friction fasteners from their openings bymerely grasping the cooler and pulling outwardly, the prongs at thistime being compressed radially inwardly to permit the cooler to swingout.

Having now described the invention its operation should be clear. Sincemodifications of the details of the structure as illustrated in thevarious figures are contemplated, the invention should be limited onlyby the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle having a supporting frame, a liquid cooling radiator anda housing thereabout encompassing same and having an opening in avertical transverse wall of the housing, said radiator and said housingbeing supportably carried by the frame, the combination comprising: ahydraulic oil cooler positioned operatively extending generally parallelto and in front of and on the opposite side of said housing opening fromsaid radiator; means providing a source of hydraulic oil under pressureto be cooled; an oil reservoir; an inlet line and an outlet lineconnected communicatively to said cooler; means disposed between theinlet and outlet line connections to said cooler pivotally mounting saidcooler on a front face of said housing for pivotal movement outwardlyfrom said radiator; and fluid communicating means flexibly connectingsaid inlet and outlet lines respectively to said source of hydraulic oiland said oil reservoir to permit said cooler to be swung radiallyoutwardly without injury to said inlet and outlet lines for cleaning andgeneral access to said radiator.

2. In a vehicle having a supporting frame, a radiator supportablycarried by said frame, a housing positioned about and encompassing saidradiator and having an opening in a vertical transverse wall thereof,means providing a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to be cooledand a hydraulic fluid reservoir, the combination comprising: a hydraulicfluid cooler, said cooler including a frame having left and right spacedframe ends, said ends being spaced apart and being positioned generallyupright; a generally horizontally extending coil comprising a pluralityof vertically spaced lengths of tubing communicatively connected andextending through said left and right frame ends, a plurality ofgenerally vertically arranged cooling fins secured about said lengths oftubing for transfer of heat from said coil to surrounding atmosphere,means providing said coil with an inlet opening and means providing saidcoil with an outlet opening, said cooler being operatively positioned infront of and on the opposite side of said housing opening from saidradiator, means disposed between said inlet and outlet opening meansmounting said cooler hingedly at one end of said cooler frame to a frontface of the transverse wall of said housing for movement of said coolerswingingly outwardly with respect to said radiator about an axisextending through said mounting means and through an arc ofsubstantially to permit cleaning adjacent surfaces of said radiator andsaid cooler; first connecting means flexibly connecting said inletopening means communicatively to said source of fluid under pressure;and second connecting means flexibly connecting said outlet openingmeans communicatively to said fluid reservoir, said first and secondconnecting means being twistable through an arc of substantially 90 overa relatively long service life without damage thereto, said first andsecond connecting means comprising a pair of elastomeric couplings, saidcoil inlet and outlet opening means being positioned at the same end ofsaid cooler frame as said hinged mounting means of said cooler frame tosaid housing; and separable frictional means secured partly on thehousing and partly to the opposite end of said cooler away from saidhinged mounting means for maintaining said cooler in normal operatingposition generally parallel to said engine radiator but being separableto permit swingable movement of said cooler outwardly away from saidradiator.

3. In an hydraulic fluid cooler arrangement for an associated vehiclehaving a supporting frame, a radiator supportably carried by said frame,said radiator having a housing secured thereabout and encompassing sameand having an opening in a vertical transverse wall thereof, meansproviding a source of fluid under pressure to be cooled, and a fluidreservoir, said fluid cooler arrangement comprising: a hydraulic fluidcooler including a frame having first and second spaced ends, a coilhaving a plurality of vertically spaced lengths of tubingcommunicatively connected at the ends of said lengths in zig zag fashionand secured to said cooler frame, a plurality of generally verticallyarranged cooling fins secured about said lengths of-tubing for transferof heat from said coil to the surrounding atmosphere, said coil havingmeans providing an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said coolerbeing positioned in front of and on the opposite side of said housingopening from said radiator and in an operating position generallyparallel to said radiator; means disposed between said inlet and outletopening means pivotally connecting said cooler at said first end of saidcooler frame to a front face of the transverse wall of said housing forpivotal movement of said cooler outwardly with respect to said radiatorto permit cleaning of said cooler; means pivotally connecting in fluidflow relation said inlet and outlet opening means respectively to saidsource of fluid under pressure and said fluid reservoir, said meansbeing twistable through an arc of substantially 90 over a relativelylong service life without damage thereto, said pivotal connecting meanscomprising a pair of resilient couplings, said couplings being fitted atone end thereof about said inlet and outlet opening means, said inletand outlet opening means being positioned at said first end of saidcooler frame; and separable holding means secured partly to the secondend of said cooler frame and partly to the radiator housing formaintaining said cooler in normal operating position generally parallelto said engine radiator but being separable to permit swingable movementof said cooler outwardly away from said radiator, said holding meanscomprising means providing generally horizontally extending andvertically spaced openings in said radiator housing, said openings beingon the side of said radiator housing adjacent said second end of saidcooler frame, and horizontally extending pronged means being positionedgenerally in line with and adapted to be received in said housingopenings, said pronged means being radially inwardly compressible andbeing adapted when received into said radiator housing openings tofrictionally hug the inner surface of said openings.

4. In a vehicle having a supporting frame, a radiator supportablycarried by said frame, a housing secured about said radiator andencompassing same and having an opening in a vertical transverse wallthereof, means providing a source of fluid under pressure to be cooledand means providing a fluid exhaust line, the combination comprising: ahydraulic fluid cooler including a frame having first and secondgenerally upright spaced ends and upper and lower frame portions securedbe tween said ends, a coil comprising a plurality of lengths of tubingcommunicatively connected and secured to said frame, a plurality ofcooling fins secured about said lengths of tubing for transfer of heatfrom said coil to surrounding atmosphere, means providing said coil withan inlet opening end extending generally upwardly, and means providingsaid coil with an outlet opening end extending generally downwardly;means disposed between said inlet and outlet openings hingedly mountingsaid first end of said cooler frame to a front face of the transversewall of said housing for swinging movement of said cooler outwardly fromsaid radiator about said first cooler frame end to permit cleaning ofthe radiator, first connecting means for flexibly connecting said inletopening end in fluid communicating relation to said source of fluidunder pressure, said inlet opening end extending toward an upper linealextension of the second end of said frame; and second connecting meansfor flexibly connecting said outlet opening end in fluid communicatingrelation to said exhaust line, said first and second connecting meansbeing twistable outwardly with said cooler without damage thereto, saidfirst and second connecting means comprising first and second lengths ofelast-omeric hose respectively, means clampingly securing said firstlength of the elastomeric hose at one end about said inlet opening endand being connected communicatively at its other end to said source offluid under pressure, means clampingly securing said second length ofhose at one end about said outlet opening end and at its other end aboutsaid means providing said fluid exhaust line, said inlet and outlet endsof said coil being located proximate said first end of said coolerframe, said second end of said cooler frame having a plate-like sideportion secured thereto extending over the traverse portion of thehousing; a plurality of vertically spaced sets of prongs secured to saidplate-like side portion, each said set of prongs extending horizontallyand inwardly of the housing; a plurality of generally circularvertically spaced openings in said radiator housing extending generallyhorizontally and in line with said prongs, each of said openings havingnotched inner surfaces and being so dimensioned as to receive a set ofsaid prongs clampingly therein, said prongs having laterally protrudingportions adapted to catch on said notched surfaces to frictionally hugthe inner surfaces of the opening, said prongs being radially inwardlycompressible and being adapted when received into said radiator housingopenings to frlctionally hug the inner portion of said openings tomaintain said cooler in normal operating position generally parallel tosaid radiator, said prongs being adapted to be pulled from said openingsby pulling outwardly on said cooler to swing said cooler outwardly forcleaning of said radiator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,298 10/1936Feldmeier l-77 2,095,058 10/1937 Cross 64 2,325,729 8/1943 Allin 293-692,566,605 9/1951 Ekornaas 293-63 X 2,568,390 9/1951 Gehrke 24259 XROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. T. W. STREULE, JR., AssistantExaminer.

1. IN A VEHICLE HAVING A SUPPORTING FRAME, A LIQUID COOLING RADIATOR ANDA HOUSING THEREABOUT ENCOMPASSING SAME AND HAVING AN OPENING IN AVERTICAL TRANSVERSE WALL OF THE HOUSING, SAID RADIATOR AND SAID HOUSINGBEING SUPPORTABLY CARRIED BY THE FRAME, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: AHYDRAULIC OIL COOLER POSITIONED OPERATIVELY EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLELTO AND IN FRONT OF AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID HOUSING OPENING FROMSAID RADIATOR; MEANS PROVIDING A SOURCE OF HYDRAULIC OIL UNDER PRESSURETO BE COOLED; AN OIL RESERVOIR; AN INLET LINE AND AN OUTLET LINECONNECTED COMMUNICATIVELY TO SAID COOLER; MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THEINLET AND OUTLET LINE CONNECTIONS TO SAID COOLER PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAIDCOOLER ON A FRONT FACE OF SAID